Anaphylaxis Center - Gary, IN
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AnaphylaxisRead the Anaphylaxis article » Introduction to anaphylaxisAnaphylaxis refers to a rapidly developing and serious allergic reaction that affects a number of different areas of the body at one time. Severe anaphylactic reactions can be fatal. Most people experience allergy symptoms only as a minor annoyance. However, a small number of people are susceptible to a reaction that can lead to shock or even death. Anaphylaxis is often triggered by substances that are injected or ingested and thereby gain access into the blood stream. An explosive reaction involving the skin, lungs, nose, throat, and gastrointestinal tract can then result. Although severe cases of anaphylaxis can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure and be fatal if untreated, many reactions are milder and can be ended with prompt medical therapy. What does anaphylaxis mean?To fully understand this term, we need to go back almost 100 years. The story begins on a cruise aboard Prince Albert I of Monaco's yacht. The Prince had invited two Parisian scientists to perform studies on the toxin produced by the tentacles of a local jellyfish, the Portuguese Man of War. Charles Richet and Paul Portier were able to isolate the toxin and tried to vaccinate dogs in the hope of obtaining protection, or "prophylaxis," against the toxin. They were horrified to find that subsequent very small doses of the toxin unexpectedly resulted in a new dramatic illness that involved the rapid onset of breathing difficulty and resulted in death within 30 minutes. Richet and Portier termed this "anaphylaxis" or "against protection." They rightly concluded that the immune system first becomes sensitized to the allergen over several weeks and upon re-exposure to the same allergen may result in a severe reaction. An allergen is a substance that is foreign to the body and can cause an allergic reaction in certain people. All... Recommended Reading Related to AnaphylaxisFirst AidFirst aid is the assistance given to an injured or sick person in need of urgent medical assistance. First aid applies to a broad range of medical situations and consists both of specific knowledge and skills (for example, what to do for each type of injury or illness) and the ability to assess a situation and make appropriate decisions (such as when to call for emergency medical assistance). Preparedness is a key element of first aid. While every home, auto, and boat should be equipped with a basic emergency kit that includes first aid supplies and a first aid manual, special circumstances may necessitate more advanced or specific degrees of preparation for an emergency. For example, residents of certain geographic areas where natural disasters (such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, floods, landslides, or tsunamis) may occur should prepare for emergencies by assembling disaster preparedness kits such as earthquake kits, ... Other Related Anaphylaxis ArticlesEmergency Contact for Gary
Nearby Gary Hospitals * Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus  Regency Hospital of Northwest Indiana  St Catherine Hospital  St Mary Medical Center  Porter Portage Hospital Campus  The Community Hospital  Saint Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers North Campus  Select Specialty Hospital Northwest Indiana  Methodist Hospital Southlake Campus  Franciscan Physicians Hospital  Saint Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers South Campus  St Anthony Medical Center  Advocate Trinity Hospital  South Shore Hospital  Roseland Community Hospital  La Rabida Children's Hospital  Ingalls Memorial Hospital  Jackson Park Hospital & Medical Center  Porter Valparaiso Hospital  St James Hospital & Health Centers Chicago Heights  MetroSouth Medical Center  Advocate South Suburban Hospital  University of Chicago Hospital Bernard Mitchell  University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital  St Bernard Hospital & Health Care Center  Provident Hospital of Cook County  Little Company of Mary Hospital & Health Care Centers  St James Hospital & Health Center Olympia Fields  Oak Forest Hospital of Cook County  Holy Cross Hospital  Mercy Hospital & Medical Center  St Anthony Memorial Health Centers  Tinley Park Mental Health Center  Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center  Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital  Northwestern Memorial Hospital  Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago  Advocate Christ Medical Center & Hope Children's Hospital  Prentice Women's Hospital  Palos Community Hospital  University of Illinois Medical Center  Johnston R Bowman Health Center  Rush University Medical Center  Jesse Brown VA Medical Center  John H Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County  Saint Anthony Hospital  Advocate Bethany Hospital  Lincoln Park Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center  Children's Memorial Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Saint Elizabeth Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Saint Joseph Hospital  Sacred Heart Hospital  Norwegian-American Hospital  Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center  MacNeal Hospital  Hartgrove Hospital  Loretto Hospital  Thorek Memorial Hospital  Weiss Memorial Hospital  Chicago Lakeshore Hospital  Resurrection Health Care West Suburban Medical Center  CINN Neurologic & Orthopedic Institute of Chicago  RUSH Oak Park Hospital  Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital  John J Madden Mental Health Center  Kindred Hospital Chicago Central  Kindred Hospital Chicago North  Methodist Hospital of Chicago  Riveredge Hospital  Loyola University Medical Center  Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital  Kindred Hospital Chicago Lakeshore  LaPorte Hospital & Health Services  Swedish Covenant Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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Shock (Medical)
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